Mechanically-operated musical string instrument.



G. K. HENNIG.

MECHANIOALLY OPERATED MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27.1909. 1 I 1 ()79 ()4 6 V Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET R.

G. K. HENNIG. 'MECHANICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT APPLICATION FILED MAYZ'I, 1909.

1,079,046, Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

TS-SHEET 2.

Fig.3.

\ 'n i l W1tnesses. l 5

\ Inventor V \LJ /7 MVEJZZQW? G. K. HENNIG.

MECHANICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27. 1909. 1,079,046.

Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Fig.6;

Witnesses.

J M VVWVLAA/ G. K. HENNIG. MECHANICALLY OPERATED MUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY27,1909. 1,079,046.

Patented Nov. 18; 1913.

4 BKEETS-SHEBT 4. f

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFIGE:

GUSTAV KARL HENNIG, OF WAHREN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO THE-FIRDI OF LUDXVIG HUPFELD AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, OF LEIPZIG, GERIYIANY.

MECHANICALLY-OPERATED hiUSICAL STRING INSTRUMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 18.1913.

Application filed May 27, 1909. Serial No. 498,623.

Y?) all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUSTAV KARL HEN- me, a subject of the King of Prussia, residing at 27 Bahnhofstrasse, \Vahren, Saxony, Germany, have invented certain new and usri'ui improvements in Mechanically-Operated Musical String Instruments; and I do' hereby declare the following to be a' full, clear,'and exact description ofthe invention, such as will enable ot to which it appertains to makeand use the same, reference being bad to the accompanyin drawings, and to letters or figures {of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to mechanically operated musical instruments of the kind in which strings are caused to sound by mechanically operated bows ot-annular form, bands or other means for vibrating the strings. 7

The improved instrument comprises any desired vnumber of violins or violin-like instruments arranged in close proximity to the annular bow or the like and" the strings of which are brought against. the hairs of the bow and thus caused to sound by suitable movement of: the violins. The Strings or the violins are at the .same time pressed against the fingerboard by mechanically operated devices corresponding to the tingcrs ot a violin player and the pitch of the sound or note is thereby determined. The construction of the apparatus may be such that each violin or the like only carries one string and consequently receives only a movementtoward or away from the annular bow. Violins or the like may however be employed each of which carries several strings and then, in addition to the movement toward and away from the bow or the like it would als be moved about its longitudinal axi for the purpose of enabling the various strings to be brought. into contact with the annular bow desired.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a musical imitrument embodying this invention.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the. new or improved imlrunu-nt with parts removed for the sake of clearness. 'l -ig. 2 is an inverted plan of the instrument. siews to a larger scale finger board. Fig. 5 shows a, device for proiers skilled in the art' Figs d and 4 are showlng the appara- 'us for pressing the strings down upon the ducing a pizzicato eliect. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views. Figs. 8 to l2 are views of modifications of the bow or the like and the arrangement of the violin-instruments, and Figs. 13 and 14 show a device for muting or obtaining sotto 'vo'ce" ettects.-

In Figs. 1 to 6 b is an annular bow adapted to be rotated by.a cord pulley a, or by some other suitable means, and within it are arranged a number of violins or violin-like instruments 0. Each violin is pivotally suspended by its neck from a pivot d carried by a fixed frame 0. The body of the violin is so connected by a rod f to a bellows g that when the bellows collapses the violin moves toward the hairing of tlie annular bow, and a string [2, strung on the violin in the usual way, comes in contact therewith. \Vhen the is assumed that the instrument is operated by vacuum, butby suitably altering the bellows and transmitting devices to the violins compressed air can be used.' For pressing the violin strings down upon the linger board bellows k are likewise 'employed. These bellows, as clearly shown -in Figs 3 and 4, are arranged on an air passage box l adjacent to the finger board in. and. by rods 01. and doublearmed levers p, press pressure pieces 0 similar to the human fingers against the strings as soon as the particular bellows is put into communication with the air pipe by the music sheet. A tremolo or vibratocti'ect is produced by a pull rod q embracing the string and which is caused to exert an alternating pressure upon the string by a bellows r.

'hen the violins c are provided with several differently tuned strings, they receive, in addition to the movement toward the annular bow angular movements about their longitudinal axes. For this purpose each pivot (I must be so constructed that it will permit of the aforesaid angular movement of the violin. The angular movement of the violin is produced by one or more bellows which are likewise controlled by the music sheet. The construction ofthe apparatus may be such that for each string there is a shifting bellows which brings the violin into means actuated by said bellows to move id the position required for the bowing of the particular string and for .this purpose moves it angularly about its longitudinal axis. Figs. 6 and 7 diagrammatically show a suitable arrangement for this purpose. The I holder to of the violin is itself capable of rotation about 'an axis '1) and connected thereto by an arm a is a bellows y by the movement of which the violin is partially rotated about the axis a to such an extent that the desired string can be bowed by the A similar shifting bellows is proof strings. Fort-he. purpose of strengthening the tone each string. might 'be combined w1ths everal simultaneously .bowied andsimilarly'or if, desired differently tuned"{"strings as shown in Fig. 9.

Fora production of a pizzica'to effect an arrangement such as shown in Fig. -5, vfor example, may be employed. This arrangement consists -ofgabellows s' tha -movement of which, influenced by the music sheet, so

.moves a rod t transversely'to the string that a hook mounted onthe rod plucks the string like the finger. If the pluckingis' to take place in one direction only, that is to say for example when -the bellows collapses, the hook u is so connectedtothergd t that 'when the rod t makes itsbackward'gor return stroke the hook rides over the tn'ng. In the modification shown in'Fig- 8 the violin-instruments embrace the bow.

Fig. 10"shows an arrangement in which a hair band 3 or the like is-moved by belt sheaves 4. These beltfsheavc's are ,rotated by friction wheels 5, Gan'd'belt sheaues 7 and a suitable motor. ments in Fig. 10 are embraced by theba'nd 3 and in Fig. 11- the instruments embrace the ranged pins carried by said holders from hand 3.'

Fig. 12 shows a n'iodification in which the strings of the instruments are actuated by rotating disks 8.

For the purpose of muting or obtaining sqtto coco effects a device such as shown.

13; By this bellows the muting arm can be lifted loll the string or pressed onto .the same as desired. The bellows 13 may be adapted to be controlled from the music sheet.

I claim:

'1. In a mechanicallyoperated musical iustrument, an annular bow, means for rotating said bow, a numberot violins having strings and pivotally suspended from their necks in close proximity .to said annular how. a bellows for each of said violins,

The violin-instriu violins toward and from said how, and means for controlling the air supply to said bellows according to the music to be played.

2. In a mechanically operated musical instrument, an annular bow, means for rotat ing said bow, a number of violins having strings and pivotally suspended from their necks in close proximity tosaid annular how, a bellows for each of said violins, rods connecting the lower ends of the violins to the bellows, and means for controlling the air supplyto said bellows according to the music to be played.

3. In a mechanically operated musical in- .strument, an annular bow, means for rotating sai bow,. a number of violins each having a plurality of strings and suspended from their necks in close proximity to said 'annula-r'bow and each'mounted to partially rotate about its longitudinal axis, means to move said violins toward and from said bow, and means to partially rotate said violins about theirflongit'udinal axes.

4. In amechanicallyoperated musical instrument,'an annular bow, means for rotating said bow, a number of violins each having a plurality of strings and suspended from their necks in close' proximity to said annular bow and each mounted to-partially rotate about its longitudinal axis',pneumatically actuated means to move said violins "toward and from said bow; and pneumatically actuated-means to partially rotate said violins about their longitudinal axes.

5. In a mechanically, operated musical instrument, an annular bow, means for rotating said how, a number of violins each having a plurality of stringsin close proximity to said how, a number of violin holders corresponding to said violins, horizontally arwhich said violins are pivotally suspended at their necks, fixed supports in which said holders can rotate about vertical axes. means to partially rotate said holders about their vertical axes, and means to move said vio lins toward and from said how.

6. In a mechanically operated musical'instrument, an annular'bow, meansfor rolaling said'bow, a number of violins each having a plurality of strings in close proximity to said 'annular bow, a number of violin holders corresponding to said vio lins, horizontally arranged pins carried by said holders from which said violins are pivotally suspended at their necks, fixed supports in which said holders can rotate about vertical axes, an actuating bellows for each holder, arms connecting the holders to the bellows, and means to move said violins toward and from said bow.

7. In a mechanically operated musical irstrumcnt, an annular bow, means for rotatiiig said hora, a number of violins each having mechanism carriedby the violins, pneuiiig strings in close proximity to said aniiumatic plectrumactions for the violins, and -iar haw, means to move said violins toward means to connect all the aforesaid pneumatic and from said-bow and means" movable with mechanisms to the tracker bar. 7 r the violins to press the strings of said vio- 14. In a mechanically operated'musical inliiis upon the linger boards of the'la'tter. strument, arrannular bow, means for rotat- S. In a mechanically operated musical iiiingsaid bow, a plurality Of-VlOllllS each havsli-umcnt, an annular bow, means for rotating a plurality of strings in close proximity ing said how, a plurality of violins, each to said how, pneumatic means to-move said 10 having strings in close proximity to said violins toward and from said how. and 'pneuhow, means to move said violins toward and mati'cally actuated means to pluck said- I fi e-iii said bow,and pneumatically actuated strings. y w means carried b'y'the'yiolins to'press' the "15.2111 anechanically operated musical ini gs of said violins upon the finger boards stru nenfijan annular bow,- neansf0r1rotat- 15101 the latter." vg 3 n'g'f-"sa-i lbow, a-pluralityiof iyiolins eaehihav v f). In a nieehanica operated musical in; mg strings in close proximity to saidannu- ,iiig said how, a llllmbtblltgof violins halving and-from said bow; a'sliding rod for each e .sin close proximity to said iinular. 'd violin's, ,lliook pivotedon eachmeans 1 to IniQve s'aidviolins toward" h r atli'ofthe strin ggfeorr'espondhig and oi'n'said'bonfihhdifirigieflrig mechanism said'shding*rod,- a separate bellows con carried by each violin an d com rising pres cted' to each ifodil and means for controlsure pieces carried-'by'said vio iis adjacent lin'g' the airj supply to all of said bellows. to the finger boardsthereof and arranged -'16.']In'a mechanicallyoperated musical iii- 25 over the strings, afibello" s-fofieaoh ofsaid "strument an"ai'inular-bow,--meansfor'rotatpressure pieces carried by the correspondiiig said how, a plurality of violins each liav iiig one of said violins, levers .on which said ing strings and suspended from their necks pr are pieces are fixed,i-ods connecting the in close proxim'ity;.to said how. and each j levers to the bellows, and meaiils utor coiitrolmounted to partiallyrotate about its longi- 30 liii z'the air supplyjto 'saidbellows? tudinal axis, means to move said -violins t0- l0..lii a mechanically operated usieal ward andawayflfroin said how, means to ,95 instrument, an annular bow,"mean's' for r0 part-iallyxotate said violins about'their lon- I tating said A bow,; a' number oflviolins eachf "gitudinal axes" and means to'press the strings having strings in close" proximity to said upon the finger boards of said violins. 35 how, means to move said violins toward and 17. Ina mechanicallyoperated musical infrom said how, and note sheetc'ontrolled strument, a bow, means forrotating said tremolo means proximate the strings ,and how, a plurality v of violins each having acting thereon to-exert a varying pressure strings and suspended from their necks in on thc sti'ings ofsaid yi'oliiis. v I close proximity-to said how and each mount- 40 11. in a mechanicallyoperated musical in: ed to partially rotate about its longitudinal struinciit, an annular bow, means forrotat axis, means to move said violins toward and aid how, a number of violins'eachhavfrom said how, means to partially rotate said mg mg strings in close proximity to said annular violins about their longitudinal axes, means boi-z, means to move said violins toward and to press the strings upon the finger boards 15 from said how, and pneumaticallyactuated of said violins, and mcansto exert an alternote sheet controlled tremolomeans proxinating pressure on the strings. 1.10

n ate the strings and acting thereon to exert 18. In a mechanically operated musical iiizi air-vying 1)! are on the strings. strument, a bow, means for rotating said 12. In a'iiicchanically operated musical inhow, a plurality of violins each having so siruiiieiit, an annular bow, means for rotatstrings and suspended from their necks iiiiii; said how. a plurality of violins each havclose proximity to said how and each mouiiting s: rings in close proximity to said how, ed to partially rotate about its longitudinal means: to more said violins toward and from axis, means to-iiiove said violins toward and a d be; red levers connected thereto to away from said bow, means to partially 55 mg: said strings bellows carried by the rotate said violins about their longitudinal violins and to which said rods are connected, axes, means to press the strings upon the and means for controlling the air supply to finger boards of said Violins, means adapted said hollows. to exert an alternating pressure on the 1 5. In a musical instrument the coinbinastrings, and means to luck the latter.

00 tion with a plurality of pivotally mounted 19. In a mechanical yoperated musical iiivicliiis, of a h common to all of them, a striiinent, a bow, means for rotating said tracker our, pneumatic mechanism to move how, a plurality of violins each having the violins toward'the bow, pneumatic mechstrings and suspended from their necks in anisin to turn the violins, pneumatic fingerclose proximity to said how and each mountsti'ument, aii'aiinular bow, means'foi' rotatlar'bow, means to move said violins toward ed. to partially rotate about its longitudinal axis, pneumatically actuated means to move said violins toward and from said bow, pneumatically actuated means to partially rotate said violins about their longitudinal axes, pneumatically actuated means to'press the strings upon the finger boards of said.

violins, pneumatically actuated means to exert an. alternating pressure on the strings and pneumatically actuated'means to pluck.

the strings.

20. In a self playing violin, a violin and a. tracken bar in combination with-apneuoi strings; means to .move the violin to and fronuthe bow, and means to rotate the violin to present one or-monexstrings to the bow.

22. In combination, a how, means for operating it, a movably mounted violin in proximity to the bow and having a plurality of strings, not/e sheet controlled means move the violin to and from the bow and note sheetcontrolled means to rotate the violin to present one or more stringgto the bow.

23. In combination, a bow, means for operating it, a movably mounted violin havinga plurality of strings and mounted to swing to and from the bow and about its longitudinal tive relation to the bow.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invent-ion,' I. have signed my name in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

' GUSTAV KARL manure.

Witnessesi Emu Gnuno'runn, RUDOLPH FRICKE.

axis and means to move the violin to bring a string or strings int-o opera- 

